• Worshippers take photographs of the Kaaba inside Mecca's Grand Mosque a day after Saudi authorities emptied Islam's holiest site for sterilisation over fears of the new coronavirus COVID-19. AFP
    Worshippers take photographs of the Kaaba inside Mecca's Grand Mosque a day after Saudi authorities emptied Islam's holiest site for sterilisation over fears of the new coronavirus COVID-19. AFP
  • An almost empty Kaaba at the Grand Mosque is seen after Saudi authority suspended umrah amid the fear of coronavirus outbreak. Reuters
    An almost empty Kaaba at the Grand Mosque is seen after Saudi authority suspended umrah amid the fear of coronavirus outbreak. Reuters
  • A view of Kaaba at the Grand Mosque, which is almost empty of worshippers. Reuters
    A view of Kaaba at the Grand Mosque, which is almost empty of worshippers. Reuters
  • Kaaba at the Grand Mosque is almost empty of worshippers. Reuters
    Kaaba at the Grand Mosque is almost empty of worshippers. Reuters
  • A view of Kaaba at the Grand Mosque, which is almost empty of worshippers. Reuters
    A view of Kaaba at the Grand Mosque, which is almost empty of worshippers. Reuters
  • The Kaaba, inside Mecca's Grand Mosque, is shown to be empty of worshippers on Thursday in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. AFP
    The Kaaba, inside Mecca's Grand Mosque, is shown to be empty of worshippers on Thursday in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. AFP
  • Small groups of pilgrims walk around the Kaaba. AFP
    Small groups of pilgrims walk around the Kaaba. AFP
  • Workers sterilize the ground in front of the Kaaba in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. AP Photo
    Workers sterilize the ground in front of the Kaaba in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. AP Photo
  • Municipal workers are seen in empty courtyard the Kaaba. AFP
    Municipal workers are seen in empty courtyard the Kaaba. AFP
  • Few prayed around the Kaaba in Makkah on Thursday. AP Photo
    Few prayed around the Kaaba in Makkah on Thursday. AP Photo
  • A pilgrim wears a mask as he visits the Grand Mosque in Makkah. AP Photo
    A pilgrim wears a mask as he visits the Grand Mosque in Makkah. AP Photo
  • A Saudi policeman stands guard in front of the Kaaba. AP Photo
    A Saudi policeman stands guard in front of the Kaaba. AP Photo
  • A pilgrim films pigeons outside the Grand Mosque. AP Photo
    A pilgrim films pigeons outside the Grand Mosque. AP Photo
  • Indonesian pilgrims, who entered Mecca before visas were halted, wait their bus to leave home in Makkah. AP Photo
    Indonesian pilgrims, who entered Mecca before visas were halted, wait their bus to leave home in Makkah. AP Photo
  • Far smaller crowds than usual of Muslim pilgrims circumambulate the Kaaba in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. AP Photo
    Far smaller crowds than usual of Muslim pilgrims circumambulate the Kaaba in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. AP Photo
  • The white-tiled area surrounding the Kaaba is shown empty of worshippers. AFP
    The white-tiled area surrounding the Kaaba is shown empty of worshippers. AFP

Coronavirus: A quiet day at Saudi Arabia's Grand Mosque in Makkah

Authorities empty Islam's holiest site for disinfection against the coronavirus

The National

March 06, 2020

  • English
  • Arabic

Saudi Arabia on Thursday emptied the Grand Mosque in Makkah to disinfect Islam's holiest site for precautions over the coronavirus.

The kingdom halted the pilgrimage for its own citizens and residents on Wednesday, on top of restrictions announced last week on foreign pilgrims to stop the disease from spreading.

State television relayed images of an empty white-tiled areas surrounding the Kaaba which is usually packed with tens of thousands of pilgrims.

A group of cleaners were seen scrubbing and mopping the tiles around the Kaaba.

The Grand Mosque in Makkah and Al Masjid Al Nabawy in Madinah reopened on Friday according to TV Al Ekhbariya.

Riyadh has reported five cases of the coronavirus.

CoronavirusSaudi Arabia